Author Paul Coelho Says Sharing Ebook For Free Helps Sales

Link: sevenload.com

(via digitalalchemy)

The example cited is the sales of "The Alchemist" in Russia which soared from 1,000 copies sold to 100,000 (then 1 million) after the Russian translation was released online.

So I guess it's ok to download them from Pirate Coelho. They are available in PDF at box.net in 7 languages. Surprisingly 'The Alchemist' is not available in English.

Paul Coelho wrote 'The Pilgrimage' which is instrumental for introducing the Camino to many Brazilian and others around the world.

Technorati tags: Paul, Coelho, ebooks, pdf, free, download, sales, piracy

On Camino Statistics 2006/2007

(via El Correo Gallego)

Many surprises from the statistics between 2006 and 2007.

1. Non Spaniards is now the majority in the camino.
2. Camino Primitivo has the highest growth in terms of percentage.
3. Pilgrims from Asia also experience the highest growth in percentage.

Technorati tags: camino de santiago, pilgrim, statistics, 2006, 2007

Explore Sacred Sites With Sacred Destinations

Explore sacred sites, ancient wonders, and religious places around the world with maps, photo galleries and even a blog. Covers every major countries including of course the Camino de Santiago in Spain. And appreciate the sacred sites in your own country.

Link

Technorati tags: sacred, sites, destinations, travel, guide, world, countries

Forrest Gump And His Camino

One of my favorite movies of all time, Forrest Gump's run is his camino. The clip from the movie shown here mashed with music from 'A flock of seagulls'.

At least he has found what he is looking and stopped running in the end. I am still running.

Technorati tags: camino, forrest, gump, video, clip, run

Pilgrim Statistics 2007 - Till May 22nd 2007

(via caminiosantiago.com forum)

Thanks to Rosina:

Per Month: January 350; February 666; March 1,680; April 8,109; May (up to the 22nd) 9,337.

Sex: Males: 11,996; Females: 8,148

Age: 1-16 years 1,541; 17-35 years 5,845; 36-65 years 11,230; 66-100 years 1,529.

Path: Camino Frances 15,880; Camino Inglés 210; Camino del Norte 627; Camino Portugués 1,928; Camino Primitivo 398; Via de la Plata 1,033; Other 69.

Method: on foot 17,028; by bike 2,986; on horseback 127; on wheelchair 4.

Motive: Purely religious 7,507; religious/cultural 12,046; non-religious 592.

From: Argentina 84; Australia 152; Belgium 170; Brazil 253; Canada 333; Denmark 177; Finland 116; France 1,530; Germany, 3,256; Holland 290; Ireland 276; Italy 927 Japan 45; Korea 70; Mexico 100; Norway 154; Portugal 1,149; South Africa 42; Spain 8,911; Sweden 45; Switzerland 186; U.K. 407; United States 453.

Starting at: St-Jean-Pied-de-Port 2,064; O Cebreiro 1,441; Leon 1,329; Roncesvalles 1,317; Ponferrada 816; Pamplona 788; Le Puy 686; Astorga 681; Burgos 564; Porto 539; Villafranca del Bierzo 343; France (?) 291; Ourense 250; Oviedo 200; Ferrol 150; Germany 142; Irún 113; Logroño 111; Lugo 97; Fonsagrada 95; Jaca 65; Mérida 65; Lisboa 59; Bilbao 58; Braga 55; Holland 50.

Enjoy.

The Best Hospitalier In The Camino Primitivo

If you walking the camino primitivo, say hi to Rafael in Tineo. He's the hospitalier there. I was lucky I had Ida from Holland (left) who is fluent in Spanish to help me during the long afternoon conversation. It's hard to write about how friendly and funny Rafael is, you just have to be there to experience it.

Technorati tags: camino, primitivo, tineo, hospitalier, best, funny

On Dreams While Walking The Camino

What dreams do you have while you are walking the camino? I don't mean those that you have while walking but those when one is asleep at night.

I have a recurring one. Twice in the Camino Frances last year and once this year during my Camino Primitivo. In my dreams I woke up twice at home and once in the US in my college years (that was ages ago) realizing that I have not yet finished my walk in the camino. In a frantic state to return to Spain and resume my camino, that's when I woke up from my dreams.

One could have easily intepret the dreams as fear of not able to complete my camino perhaps due to injury (real or perceived). Whatever it is, I hated these dreams (nightmare).

Are these dreams quite common, or is this just me...

Meeting An Old Friend On The Camino

During my camino last year, I've met a friendly horse after Melide.

I even wrote about it on this. This year on my camino primitivo, I have found him again. I saw him and actually call out to him. Immediately he came straight towards me to be patted.

He's just as friendly as ever. I think he recognized me. Last year I was in pain from tendonlitis and he was there to console me. This year I think he is just happy to see me. I hope we can do the same again next year?

Shell Markers On The Camino Primitivo

Looking at this marker, you will normally think that the direction of the camino is to your left right?

Unfortunately it is not always true on the camino primitivo. This camino covers two region in Spain, Asturias and Galicia. On the Asturias side, the direction is to the right. When I crossed over to Galicia, it is back to the norm which is to the left.

This difference had gotten me lost during the first day of my camino primitivo.

Technorati tags: camino, primitivo, signs, marker, difference

Video On My Camino Francés 2006

Camino Francés (April-May 2006)

Watch it on YouTube

I had so much fun creating the video for my Camino Primitivo that I have decided to do another one. This one is for the Camino Francés which I had done the previous year.

If you have been following this blog, you would have seen all the photos in this video and more. It's just that the video is a perfect way to pack it all in.

Again I have chosen another soundtrack from Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It's one of my favorites tracks that I was listening to while walking that camino.

Enjoy.